End loaded top opening carton

ABSTRACT

An end loaded top opening carton is formed from a unitary cut and scored blank of paperboard, and is folded to define integral body and cover portions having single-ply top and bottom walls and double-ply front, rear and end walls. The rear wall includes an inner panel folded from said body portion wall and an outer panel formed from said cover portion, there being an intermediate panel hinged to the rear wall inner panel and the rear wall outer panel. The front and end walls each include an inner portion folded from said body portion and an outer portion folded from said cover portion. The front and end walls are separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of the front, end and rear inner panels project above the lower sections of the front and end outer panels to form a collar for the articles, the collar being telescopically received within the front, end and rear outer panel upper sections.

United States Patent Desmond et al.

[54] END LOADED TOP OPENING CARTON [72] inventors: John D. Desmond; Joseph J. Hart,

both of Philadelphia. Pa.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: April 13, 1971 [2]] App]. No.: 133,502

[52] US. Cl ..229/33, 229/51 SC, 229/44 [5 1] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/22 [58] Field ofSearch....229/S1TC, 5| SC. 33, 44 CB, 229/31 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,448 9/l937 Evans ..229/33 2,l22,885 7/l938 Lowey ..229l33 2,963,2 l 4 l2/l960 Leone et al ..229/44 CB 3,018,942 l/l962 Arneson ..229/5l TC 3,l85,382 5/l965 Nunn ..229/5i SC 3,235,]67 2/l966 Svensson ..229/5l SC 3,43 3,402 3/ l 969 Persson ..229/33 3,596,823 8/l97l Zitzelman ..229/33 Sept. 26, 1972 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead AlmrneyCarpenter. Ostis & Lindberg 5 7 ABSTRACT An end loaded top opening carton is formed from a unitary cut and scored blank of paperboard, and is folded to define integral body and cover portions having single-ply top and bottom walls and double-ply front, rear and end walls. The rear wall includes an inner panel folded from said body portion wall and an outer panel formed from said cover portion, there being an intermediate panel hinged to the rear wall inner panel and the rear wall outer panel. The front and end walls each include an inner portion folded from said body portion and an outer portion folded from said cover portion. The front and end walls are separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of the front, end and rear inner panels project above the lower sections of the front and end outer panels to form a collar for the articles, the collar being telescopically received within the front. end and rear outer panel upper sections.

11 Claims, l0 Drawing Figures INVENTORS JOHN D DESMOND JOSEPH J. HART 57 52 63 M52 "liwMu ATTORNEYS INVENTORS I IOIHH r, g

PAT 'TEDsrrzs I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIGS w m F 66 FIG? JOHN D. DESMGND JOSEPH J HART END 1.0mm) TOP OPENING cAa'roN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention This invention relates to that form of carton particularly adapted to display articles of an elongated kind, such as small cigars or the like. The carton is characterized by being formed from a unitary blank which is cut, scored and folded in such a fashion as to define an upper cover portion and a lower body portion, the lower body portion including a collar extending upward beyond the upper portions thereof, and adapted to lit in telescoping relationship with the cover portion.

2. The Prior Art The prior art patents disclosing cartons of the general type having tray and cover portions, and with or without collars, are best exemplified in the following patents:

Persson 3,433,402 Mar. l8, I959 229-31 Coaltz et al. 3,207,4l6 Sept. 2|, I965 229-41 Arnelbn 3,0,94-2 Jan. 30, I962 229-51 Lowey 2,122,885 July 5, I938 229-33 Bonville 2,396,l50 Mar. 5, i946 229-44 British 4$9,734

Leone et al. 2,963.2 [4 Dec. 6, I960 229-44 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention is particularly adapted to be end loaded during the steps of forming the carton. After completion of the loading operation, the carton is thereafter separated into bottom and cover portions for view of the contents therein and ready removal of same after opening.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the improved carton according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing a step in forming a carton sleeve from the blank seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the completed carton sleeve formed from the blank of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed isometric view showing the manner in which the end walls are formed on the sleeve after the same has been loaded;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the manner in which the front wall of the loaded and completed carton may be slit to divide the front wall into upper and lower elements;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing the carton in the opened position, the articles having been removed therefrom;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale sectional view somewhat similar to FIG. 2 showing a hinge formed in the rear wall to facilitate opening;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a cut and scored paperboard blank showing an alternate form of structure;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view showing how the completed carton can be divided into bottom and cover portions; and

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view showing an al ternate form of construction for the inner, intermediate, and outer panels of the back wall.

SPECIFICATION The improved and loaded carton according to one embodiment of the invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 20 in FIG. 5, and is formed from a cut and scored blank 20A of paperboard or the like seen in FIG. 1. The blank 20A includes a group of foldably connected panels including an inner front wall 21, bottom wall 22 and an inner rear panel 23. Panels 21 and 23 are foldably connected to bottom wall 22 along respective score lines 24 and 26. Panels 21 and 23 when folded up from the bottom wall 22 define inner front and rear walls seen in FIG. 6.

An intermediate panel 28 is hingedly connected to the inner rear wall 23 along the top edge thereof at a fold line 29, and intermediate panel 28 is foldably connected at a fold line 31 to an outer rear wall panel 32. A top wall 33 of the carton 20 is foldably connected to outer rear wall panel 32 along a fold line 34, and a front wall 36 is foldably connected to the other edge of the top wall 33 along a fold line 37.

All of the parts thus far described are assembled as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 to form a carton sleeve, there being a glue patch GPl between front wall 36 and the inner front wall 21. Glue patch GPI extends from bottom wall 22 midway of the height of wall 21.

Intermediate panel 28 is glued to the inner panel 23 by a glue patch GP2.

Outer panel rear wall panel 32 is divided by a hinge line 38 into an upper section 39 and a lower section 41, there being a glue patch GP3 between intermediate panel 28 and the lower section 41 of outer rear wall 32.

Outer end walls for the carton 20 consist of an upper section 42 and a lower section 43.

Upper section 42 is formed from an upper outer end flap 44 foldably connected to each end of the top wall 33 along a fold line 46. The outer front wall 36 has an upper tab 47 at each end thereof foldably connected thereto along a fold line 48. The upper portion 39 of the outer rear wall panel 32 has a tab 49 at each end thereof foldably connected thereto along a fold line 51. The tabs 47 and 49 are folded along their respective fold lines 48 and 51 into abutting relationship along fold line 46, and the outer end flaps 44 are folded down against the tabs 47 and 49 and are glued together to define with top wall 33 a cover portion for the carton 20.

Inner end walls for the carton 20 and an outer lower end wall for the carton 20 are formed from outer end wall flaps 52 connected by a fold line 53 to each end of the bottom wall 22. Inner end walls for the bottom wall 22 are formed by tabs 54 connected by a fold line 56 to each end of the inner rear panel 23, and by tabs 57 connected by a fold line 58 to each end of the inner front wall 21.

Inner end walls for the carton 20 are additionally formed by lower tabs 59 extending from each end of the lower half of outer front wall 36 and foldable with respect thereto along the fold lines 48 for tabs 47. The inner end walls for the carton 20 are additionally formed also from tabs 61 extending from opposite ends of lower back wall section 41 along fold lines for the tabs 49.

The forming of the upper and lower end walls 42 and 43 is accomplished after forming the sleeve seen in F IG. 3. Formation of said walls is accomplished by fold- IOIUSS 0540 ing tabs 54 and 57 inward along fold lines 56 and 58. Tabs 59 extending from the lower part of front outer wall 36 are then brought along the now upstanding tabs 54 and 57, as are the tabs 61 extending from the lower part 41 of rear outer wall 32. Tabs 59 and 61 are then glued to tabs 54 and 57 and flaps 52 are glued to the outside of tabs 59 and 61 to thereby define the body portion.

The cover portion is then completed by folding tabs 47 and 49 into abutting relationship, flaps 44 being then glued thereto.

At the conclusion of the loading operation and the assembly operation described, the front wall 36 is slit into upper and lower halves 62 and 63, along a slit line 64 by a slitter knife SK. The cover portion is then foldable upon fold line 38 of the rear wall 32 to expose the carton contents. There is thus defined a collar extend ing above the bottom portion enclosing the contents. The collar consists of the inner back wall 23, inner front wall 21 and end tabs 54 and 57, the cover portion fitting telescopically therearound.

in FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown another embodiment of the invention referred to by the reference numeral 70 and formed from a cut and scored blank 70A. in this form of the invention, blank 70A is formed substantially like blank 70A of FIG. 1, and elements common to both forms are designated by the same reference numerals. Carton 70 formed from blank 70A is formed in the same manner except as will be noted.

In this form of the invention a single tab 71 extends from each end of the outer front wall 36, tab 71 being foldably connected thereto along the fold line 48. A nick 72 is provided in each fold line 48 at the midpoint thereof.

In like fashionback outer wall 32 is provided with a single tab 73 at each end thereof and foldably connected thereto along fold line 51. A nick 74 is provided in each fold line 51 and also intersects fold line 38 in back wall 32.

The forming of the carton 70 is done in a similar fashion as carton 20, tabs 54 and 57 being folded into abutting relationship, and tabs 71 and 73 being glued thereto, but only at glue patches GP4. Thereafter end flaps 44 and 52 are glued to the outer side of tabs 71 and 73.

At the conclusion of the forming operation described front wall 32 is slitted longitudinally and the end walls of carton 70 slitted additionally by knives SK1 and 8K2. The operation of these knives is to slit tabs 71 and 73 only, tabs 54 and 57 being unslitted to provide inner end walls for the body portion of carton 70, and with inner front and back walls 21 and 23 enclosing articles loaded within the carton.

In FIG. there is shown another embodiment 80 wherein the outer back wall 32 is not provided with a fold line, but is instead foldably connected to intermediate wall 28 at a fold line 81.

I claim:

1. in an end loading, top opening carton for holding packaged articles, said carton being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, and having integral body and cover portions and single-ply top and bottom walls and inner and outer ply front, rear, and end walls, the combination of:

a. a rear wall including:

i. a rear inner panel formed from said body portion;

ii. an outer panel formed from said cover portion;

iii. an intermediate panel hinged at its upper edge to the upper edge of said rear inner panel and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said rear wall outer panel;

b. a front wall and pair of end walls each including:

i. an inner portion formed from said body portion; ii. an outer portion formed from said cover portion;

c. the outer panel of said rear wall being divided by a hinge line into upper and lower sections and the outer panels of said front and end walls being separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of said front, end, and rear wall inner panels project above the lower sections of the front, end, and rear wall outer panels to form a collar for said articles which is telescopically received within the front, end, and rear wall outer panel upper sections.

2. In an end loading, top opening carton for holding packaged articles, said carton being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, and having integral body and cover portions and single-ply top and bottom walls and double-ply front, rear, and end walls, the combination of:

a. a rear wall including:

i. an inner panel formed from said body portion;

ii. an outer panel formed from said cover portion;

iii. an intermediate panel hinged at its upper edge to the upper edge of said rear wall inner panel and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said rear wall outer panel;

b. a front wall and a pair of end walls each including: i. an inner portion formed from said body portion; ii. an outer portion formed from said cover portion;

c. said front and end walls being separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of said front, end, and rear wall inner panels project above the lower sections of the front and end outer panels to form a collar for said articles which is telescopically received with the front, end, and rear wall outer panel upper sections.

3. An end loaded carton according to claim 1 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections.

4. An end loaded carton according to claim 1 wherein said top and bottom walls have flaps extending therefrom and adhered to tabs extending from correlative portions of said rear and front walls to define said body and cover portions.

5. An end loaded carton according to claim 4 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections to define with said end walls said body and cover portions.

6. An end loaded carton according to claim 2 wherein said body and cover portions are formed by slitting said front wall into upper and lower sections and by slitting portions of said end walls into upper and lower sections.

7. An end loaded carton according to claim 6 wherein said top and bottom walls have flaps extending from correlative portions of said rear and front walls to define with said tabs said body and cover portions.

10. An end loaded carton according to claim 9 wherein said tabs are divided into upper and lower portions and are adhered to said flaps, said tabs being slitted to define body and cover end walls with said flaps.

11. An end loaded carton according to claim 10 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections to define said body and cover portions.

i I I l 0' lOlOSS D542 

1. In an end loading, top opening carton for holding packaged articles, said carton being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, and having integral body and cover portions and single-ply top and bottom walls and inner and outer ply front, rear, and end walls, the combination of: a. a rear wall including: i. a rear inner panel formed from said body portion; ii. an outer panel formed from said cover portion; iii. an intermediate panel hinged at its upper edge to the upper edge of said rear inner panel and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said rear wall outer panel; b. a front wall and pair of end walls each including: i. an inner portion formed from said body portion; ii. an outer portion formed from said cover portion; c. the outer panel of said rear wall being divided by a hinge line into upper and lower sections and the outer panels of said front and end walls being separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of said front, end, and rear wall inner panels project above the lower sections of the front, end, and rear wall outer panels to form a collar for said articles which is telescopically received within the front, end, and rear wall outer panel upper sectionS.
 2. In an end loading, top opening carton for holding packaged articles, said carton being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, and having integral body and cover portions and single-ply top and bottom walls and double-ply front, rear, and end walls, the combination of: a. a rear wall including: i. an inner panel formed from said body portion; ii. an outer panel formed from said cover portion; iii. an intermediate panel hinged at its upper edge to the upper edge of said rear wall inner panel and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said rear wall outer panel; b. a front wall and a pair of end walls each including: i. an inner portion formed from said body portion; ii. an outer portion formed from said cover portion; c. said front and end walls being separable into upper and lower sections, so that when the carton is opened, upper portions of said front, end, and rear wall inner panels project above the lower sections of the front and end outer panels to form a collar for said articles which is telescopically received with the front, end, and rear wall outer panel upper sections.
 3. An end loaded carton according to claim 1 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections.
 4. An end loaded carton according to claim 1 wherein said top and bottom walls have flaps extending therefrom and adhered to tabs extending from correlative portions of said rear and front walls to define said body and cover portions.
 5. An end loaded carton according to claim 4 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections to define with said end walls said body and cover portions.
 6. An end loaded carton according to claim 2 wherein said body and cover portions are formed by slitting said front wall into upper and lower sections and by slitting portions of said end walls into upper and lower sections.
 7. An end loaded carton according to claim 6 wherein said top and bottom walls have flaps extending from the ends thereof and adhered to tabs extending from correlative portions of said rear and front walls to define with said tabs when separated from said body and cover portions.
 8. An end loaded carton according to claim 2 wherein tabs extend from said inner rear panel and said inner front panel and are foldable into abutting relationship to define end portions of said collar.
 9. An end loaded carton according to claim 2 wherein said top and bottom walls have flaps extending from the ends thereof and adhered to tabs extending from correlative portions of said rear and front walls to define with said tabs said body and cover portions.
 10. An end loaded carton according to claim 9 wherein said tabs are divided into upper and lower portions and are adhered to said flaps, said tabs being slitted to define body and cover end walls with said flaps.
 11. An end loaded carton according to claim 10 wherein said front wall is slitted into upper and lower sections to define said body and cover portions. 